The Giants Shoulder #89 The Real Reason We Should Revive Extinct Animals
Jan 27, 2026
Andrew Pask, Chief Biology Officer at Colossal Biosciences and a professor of genetics with 30+ years in marsupial conservation, leads projects like the Tasmanian tiger revival. He discusses genomic advances and CRISPR strategies to rebuild extinct genomes. He explains rewilding plans, how restored predators reshape ecosystems, and the ethical and policy questions around using de-extinction for conservation.
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De-Extinction As A Conservation Necessity
- De-extinction is framed as a necessary conservation tool to restore lost biodiversity and genetic diversity.
- Andrew Pask argues we must embrace genetic engineering to prevent ecosystem collapse and species loss.
Genomics Plus CRISPR Made It Possible
- Two breakthroughs made de-extinction feasible: better ancient DNA genomics and scalable CRISPR editing.
- Those advances let scientists rebuild fragmented extinct genomes and precisely edit living relatives.
Follow A Practical De-Extinction Recipe
- Start de-extinction by sequencing the best extinct specimens and finding the closest living relative.
- Edit the living relative's genome to match the extinct genome and use reproductive tech to create animals.
